Can perforator



April 16, 1957 H. COOL CAN PERFORATOR Filed Sept. 14, 1954 7 IN VEN TOR.

BY M M ATTORMEYS HAROLD L. COOL United States Patent G CAN PERFORATORHarold L. Cool, El Dorado, Kans. Application September 14, 1954, SerialNo. 455,878

6 Claims. (Cl. ZZZ-83.5)

This invention relates to a combined perforator and dispenserparticularly adapted for use in dispensing liquid from sealedcontainers.

There have been many types of perforators and dispensers designed fordispensing liquids from sealed containers. Some of these have met withmoderate degrees of acceptance and use. However, none appears to havecompletely fulfilled all the needs with regard to ease of use, low cost,and rapid and smooth removal of liquid from the container.

In view of the above, it is one object of this invention to provide acombined perforator and dispenser which will include means forpuncturing the container in two places, one for dispensing and the otherfor venting purposes so as to provide a rapid and smooth flow of liquidtherefrom.

Yet another object is to provide a combined perforator and dispenser asdescribed above in which both of the cutting operations may be performedby one mechanical operation.

Still another object is to provide a combined perforator and dispenserfor sealed containers comprising a container receiving body and a pairof cutters simultaneously operable by one mechanical motion to perforatea dispensing and a venting outlet in the container.

This invention will appear more clearly from the following detaileddescription when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing;wherein:

Fig. l is a side elevation partly in section showing the details of thecutters and the manner in which they perforate the container, which isshown in position;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the device showing the relationship of thecutters to the body; and

Fig. 3 is an end elevation showing the means for mounting the cutters.

The device as shown in the various figures of the drawing comprises abody 12 which includes a curved side wall portion 14 partly closed atone end by a bottom wall 16 having a lip portion 18 spaced from andgenerally parallel to the curved body 12 where it connects with thebottom wall 16. As best shown in Fig. 2 an outlet opening 20 is locatedcentrally in the lower section of the wall 14. A spout 22 is secured tothe body 12 so as to connect with the opening 20 in the body.

A typical sealed type of container 24 is adapted to be carried by thebody 12 as indicated in Fig. 1. It should be noted that the containerrim 26 fits down beneath the lip 18 so that the container will be heldfirmly in position during the perforating and dispensing operation.

This device includes a cutter assembly for perforating the lower sideportion of the container for purposes of dispensing liquid therefrom andanother cutter assembly for venting the top portion of the container.

The cutter assembly for perforating the side portion of the containercomprises a curved cutter 28 pivotally mounted on pin 30 carried bybrackets 32 secured to the outer surface of body wall 14 on either sideof the cutter. The cutter is positioned within the upper portion of the2,788,917 Patented Apr. 16, 1957 "ice spout 22 as indicated in Figs. 1and 2. An operating lever 34 is pivoted about pin 30 and in thisparticular construction is made integral with the cutter 28.

A handle 36 is secured to the spout as shown in Fig. 1. A compressionspring 38 is carried between the handle 36 and operating lever 34 so asto maintain the operating lever and the cutter in the inoperativeposition shown in solid lines. I

The vent cutting assembly comprises a pair of guide members 4040 securedto the upper outside portion of wall 14 in spaced parallel arrangement.A U-shaped vent cutter 42 comprising a cutter blade 44 connected to aflat slide element 46 spaced from and parallel to the. cutter blade isslidably mounted on the wall 14 by means of guide members 4040 in whichthe slide member 46 is carried. Lugs 48 and 50 mounted on the operatinglever 34 and slide element 46 respectively are pivotally connected toeach other by means of link 52. Thus both of the cutters are connectedto the operating lever 34.

In use, a sealed container is placed in the device as indicated in Fig.1 so that the rim 26 of container 24 fits down beneath the lip 18 andagainst the bottom wall 16. The spout 22 is then placed in the desireddischarge location and the operating lever 34 is pivoted toward handle36 thus causing the cutter to swing inwardly to the position indicatedin dotted lines to form a large dispensing opening in the container andalso simultaneously causing the vent cutter blade 44 to move downwardlyto the position indicated in dotted lines to form a vent perforation inthe container top. Having thus cut two openings in the container, theliquid freely flows therefrom.

The above-described invention has produced a combination perforator anddispenser for dispensing liquids from sealed containers which shouldmeet the demand for a simple unit of this type.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as novel and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. A combined perforator and dispenser for use in dispensing liquid fromsealed containers comprising: a container-receiving body, said bodycomprising a side wall and a bottom wall projecting from one end thereofto form a seat for the lower end of a container, the side wall having anopening therein, a spout secured to the body so as to connect with saidopening, a cutter pivotally mounted on the side wall and positionedwithin the spout so that the cutter upon pivoting will extend throughthe opening in the side wall and perforate a container carriedthereover, and means for pivoting said cutter.

2. The device as described in claim 1 including a slidably mounted ventcutter, and means connecting said vent cutter with the means forpivoting the first cutter whereby both of the cutters are simultaneouslyoperated.

3. A combined perforator and dispenser for use in dispensing liquid fromsealed containers comprising: a body adapted to receive a portion of asealed container, said body comprising a curved side wall, a bottom wallsecured to and partly closing one end of the curved side wall, the sidewall having an opening, a spout secured to the side wall and connectingwith the opening, a handle fixed to and extending outwardly from thespout, a cutter, means pivotally mounting the cutter on the curved sidewall to position it within the spout whereby it may pivot and extendthrough the opening in the body to perforate a container carriedthereover, an operating lever connected to the cutter at the pivot pointso that movement of the lever will cause the cutter to swing about thepivot, said lever being spaced from and generally parallel to thehandle, and a spring carried between the handle and the operating leverto return the operating lever to its at rest position after a cuttingoperation.

' 3 4. 1he device as described in claim'3 including cutter guide meansmounted on the upper portion of the side wall, a vent cutter carried bysaid guide means, and a link pivotally connecting the vent cutter andthe operating lever.

5. A combined perforator and dispenser for use in dispensing liquid fromsealed containers comprising: a body adapted to receive a portion of asealed container, said body comprising a curved side wall, a bottom wallsecured to and partly closing one end of the curved side wall, a lip onthe inner side of the bottom wall spaced from and generally parallel tothe side wall, said lip being adapted to fit over the rim of a containercarried by the body so as .to hold it firmly in position, the side wallhaving an opening, alspout secured to the side wall and connecting withthe opening, a handle fixed to and extending outwardly from the spout, acutter, means pivotally mounting the cutter on the curved side wall toposition it within the spout whereby it may pivot and extend through theopening in the body to perforate a container carried thereover, anoperating lever connected to the cutter at the pivot point so thatmovement of the lever will cause the cutter to swing about the pivot,said lever being spaced from and generally parallel to the handle,

and a springcan'ied'between the handle and the operating lever to returnthe operating lever to its at rest position after a cutting operation.

6. The device as described in claim 5 including a pair of spacedparallel guides mounted on the upper outer portion of the side wall, avent cutter having a cutter blade and a slide element connected theretoin spaced parallel relation, said slide element being carried in theguide members, a Link pivotally connecting the slide element and theoperating lever whereby pivoting of this lever to rotate thefirst-mentioned cutter will also serve to cause the vent cutter toengage and perforate the top portion of the container.

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